The San Diego resident and NFL veteran caught passes last month from Drew Brees at Westview High in Rancho Penasquitos. He lifted weights at three fitness clubs in San Diego, he ran stairs at the San Diego Convention Center, he studied football film at San Diego State.

Then his phone rang. The Chargers, clobbered by injuries, needed a receiver. Could he be at Chargers Park for a workout? He could.

Soon after the team signed him, players uttered a familiar phrase.

Tutu's here.

"It was like I never left," he said Thursday.

How long his third Chargers tour in four years will last is unknown, but he could be part of the offense and special teams Saturday against the Cardinals.

"I'm ready to get open," he said. "I'm ready to catch passes. I'm ready to block. I'm ready to tackle. I'm ready to do it all."

Tutu has caught 16 passes from Philip Rivers. The average gain was 19.2 yards.

"A guy like that that you’ve thrown to, that’s been around and that’s comfortable with all the guys, you immediately feel confident throwing him the ball,” Rivers said. “One thing he’s always been able to do is pick up the system quickly."

When he made the team in 2010 as an undrafted rookie from Fresno State, Norv Turner and Rivers praised the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder's size and smarts. He often lined up at split end but also learned the flanker and slot positions. He finished the year with 13 receptions, two for touchdowns.

Knowing Turner's system worked in his favor last season when the Chargers tried him out and signed him.

Now, in comparison, the 26-year-old may be swimming as he learns Mike McCoy's concepts and codes. But he is reunited with Fred Graves, his position coach with the Panthers in 2012.

"Being honest about Tutu," Rivers said, "there’s a lot of confidence to go his way because of the player that he’s been and the guy he’s been both times he was here."

Amazed and optimistic

The sight of Malcom Floyd sprinting, cornering around cones, slamming on the brakes and running again on Thursday would've stunned most anyone who saw Floyd go down 10 days ago with an injured right knee.

Count Floyd as the one most-amazed by his brisk comeback.

"I don't know how I didn't blow out everything in my knee," he said. "But I'm grateful that I am here and I'm thankful to be out there. Everything is moving in the right direction."

The Chargers open the season Sept. 9, but that's not the date Floyd is eyeing.

"I better be back before then," he said. "I want to come back earlier than that so I can get in tune with Philip, especially with this offense. But what I will do whatever coach McCoy and (trainer) James (Collins) tell me to do."